Stroboscopic apparatus



March 9 1926.

' CZIKAN STROBOSCOPIC APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1924 l l I l Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES LOUIS CZIKAN, OF IXELLES, NEAR BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

STROIBOSCOPIC APPARATUS.

Application filed September 19; 1924. Serial No. 788,641.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS CZIKAN, a subject of the King of Belgium, residing at Belgium, -56' Rue Ixelles, near Brussels, ,Vautier, have invented a new and useful Stroboscopic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved stroboscopic apparatus,-serving to control and observe the mechanical parts of an engine which are subjected to rapid movements, and the said invention is principally characterized by the application in an apparatus of the kind referred to and in conjunction with an induction coil of an oscillatory interrupter of which the rate of oscillation may be regulated in order. to obtain a synchronization between the moving parts to be observed and for instance a source of luminous flashes influenced by the stroboscopic apparatus.

The apparatus to which the invention applies substantially comprises a source of electricity, such as a battery or storage battype.

' varied in consequence.

' justing means,

tery, an induction coil having the oscillatory interrupter previously referred to inserted in the circuit of its primary winding,

a lamp of the vacuum tube type filled withrarefied gas, and a pair of condensers, and

the invention essentially resides in the-specific features of construction of the oscillatory interrupter, the oscillatory interrupter, which includes a ticker arranged to cooperate with a spring contact-member and of which the rate of oscillation may be varied at will through the medium of suitable adas hereinafter described. The source of electricity supplies electric current to the circuit of the primary winding of the induction coil, and a condenser is interposed on the said primary circuit in order toattenuate as much as ossible the rupture spark at the contact 0 the'ticker. The secondary current engendered by the energization of theprimary circuit of the induction coil is caused to pass through a tube filled with rarefied gas or alamp of similar The interrupter being of a type which permits of varying in a large proportion'its rate of oscillation, the numberof the inter ruptionsof the primary circuit may be Each of the interruptions of the primary current induces a secondary current which, passing through the lamp or flash tube, produces a luminous flas therein. A condenser is moreover interposed in the secondary circuit in such a manner as to obtain in the lamp a discharge as instantaneous as possible.

"When the apparatus is inuse, the lamp or flash-tube gives successive luminous flashes at equal time intervals, and by varyingthe rate of oscillation of the ticker, the number of such flashes produced Within a determined period of time may be increased or reduced.

An embodiment of the stroboscopic apparatus according to the invention is, by way of example, illustrated in a purely diagrammatic manner by the accompanying drawmg. 7

The ticker proper is constituted by an iron piece 1 which oscillates about the point 2. On one side of the ticker 1 and on different sides of the point of oscillation 2 are provided two abutment screws 3, 4 mounted in terminals 5 provided with screws 6 by means of which the abutment screws 3, 4 may be secured in their adjusted position. The points of these screws 3 and 4 bear on the respective ends of a blade 7 attached to theticker 1 and extending on one side and the other respectively of the point of oscillation 2: The apparatus comprises an induction coil 8 (or an electro-magnet interposed on the primary circuit of such a coil) of which the primary winding is, at one of its ends, connected to one of the terminals of a source of electricity 9. .The other end of the primary winding of the coil is connected to the point of fixation 10 of a blade spring 11 which has the shape of a portion of a loop and carries a platinum or tungsten contact piece 12 which the spring 11 normally tends to maintain in contact with a similar contact piece on one of the ends 17, suitably bent, of the ticker 1, so as to maintain at a distance from the adjacent end of the core 8' of the induction coil 8 a stud 18 provided on the ticker 1 opposite the said end of the core 8 and between the end 17 of the said ticker and its point of oscillation 2.,

0n the secondary circuit of the induction h coil 8 is placed a flash-tube. 19 filled with rarefied gas, and'two condensers 20 and 21 are moreover interposedrespectively on the primary and on the secondary circuit.

The rate of oscillation of'the ticket may thus be modified by adopting one or several of the following means:

1, by acting on the spring 11 by means. of the screw 14;

2, by adjusting the abutment screw 3 to regulate the movement of the ticker 1 which, by influencing the free end 11 of the spring 11, determines. the limit of spacing between the contact 12 and the contact 13 for the interruption of the primary circuit between these two contacts;

3, by adjusting the abutment screw 4, which limits the amplitude of the return movement of the ticker 1 in the direction of the arrow 22; and

4, by providing an induction coil which is itself adjustable in relation to the ticker.

The described apparatus operates in, the following manner:

The contact being established between the points 12 and 13, the current passes through the primary circuit and the core 8 of the induction coil Sbeing thus energized, the stud 18 is drawn towards the adjacent end of the said core: consequently, the end 17 of the ticker 1 is caused to press on the end 11 of the spring 11, so that the contact piece 12 moves away from the contact piece 13. The passage of the current in the primary circuit being thus interrupted, the core 8 of the induction coil ceases to draw the ticker, so that, the latter is repulsed by the spring 11, which re-establishes the contact of the point 1-2 with the point 13. The ticker 1, under the influence of the impulsion imparted. thereto-by the spring 11 before the point 12 comes into contact with the point 13, continues its movement in the direction of the arrow 22 until stopped by the contact against the point of the abutment screw 4 of the corresponding end of the blade 7. The contact between the contact pieces 12 and 13 being re-established,

the primary circuit is again closed and the ticker is again drawn towards the core of the coil, the cycle being thus repeated indefinitely.

If it be assumed that it is desired to control or observe a mechanical partof which the speed is too high to permit of its movement being followed with the naked eye, such as for instance a driving shaft rotating at 2000 revolutions per minute, the interrupter of the described apparatus is adjusted until it produces 2000 interruptions of current perminute. The flash-tube will consequently give 2000 luminous flashes per minute, and if the rays thus emitted are projected on the moving shaft, the said shaft will appear to be at a standstill although in reality itrotates at 2000 rovolutions per minute. If instead of synchronizing the luminous flashes with the number of revolutions, the frequency of the interrupter be somewhat retarded in relation to the number of revolutions, the observer will =have the impression that the shaft rotates at a greatly reduced speed which niay be easily followed with the naked eye, although the said shaft in fact rotates at a very high speed.

I claim:

In a stroboscopic apparatus of the type comprising an induction coil of which the secondary circuit comprises acondenser and a flash-tube filled with rarefied gas while its primary winding also comprises a condenser and is at one, end electrically connected to one of the terminals of a source of electricity an interrupter including an oscillatory ticker, two abutment screws arranged on the same side of the ticker and on different sides of its point of oscillation in such a manner as to allow the adjustment ofthe amplitude of the oscillations ofthe ticker in each direction, an adjustable contact screw electrically connected to the other terminal of the source of electricity, and a contact spring having its point of fixation electrically connected to the other end of the primary winding of the induction coil and arranged in such a manner as normally to tend to keep contact with the aforesaid contact screwand to maintain the ticker at a distance from the adjacent end of the core of the induction coil, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I signed hereunto my name.

LOUIS CZIKAN. 

